BASIC PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS AS RISK FACTORS FOR DEPRESSION

Ljudje so dnevno izpostavljeni stresu, težkim življenjskim dogodkom, telesnim boleznim in še marsičemu, kar pusti posledice na njihovem duševnem zdravju. Depresija je tako med vsemi boleznimi v največjem porastu. Tudi v Sloveniji njena razširjenost vztrajno narašča – med letoma 2001 in 2008 se je namreč razširjenost depresije letno povečala za približno 6 % (Kozel, Maučec Zakotnik, Tančič Grum, Kersnik, Rotar-Pavlič, Žmuc Tomori in Ziherl, 2012). Eden od ključnih dejavnikov, ki vplivajo na razvoj depresije, je osebnost (Bagby, Quilty in Ryder, 2008). Namen naše raziskave je preveriti, ali so temeljne dimenzije osebnosti (nevroticizem, ekstravertnost in psihoticizem) rizični dejavniki za depresijo. Zanima nas, ali pri temeljnih dimenzijah osebnosti obstajajo razlike med splošno populacijo in klinično skupino. V vzorec je vključenih 119 udeležencev, od tega 65,5 % oseb iz splošne populacije in 34,5 % oseb z depresivno motnjo. Vrednosti temeljnih dimenzij osebnosti in stopnjo depresivnosti smo preverjali z vprašalniki (Eysenckove osebnostne lestvice, Beckov vprašalnik depresivnosti), ki so jih izpolnjevali udeleženci. Rezultati kažejo, da pri osebnostnih dimenzijah nevroticizma in ekstravertnosti obstajajo pomembne razlike med skupino iz splošne populacije in klinično skupino, medtem ko pri psihoticizmu ni razlik med skupinama. Osebe z depresivno motnjo imajo v primerjavi s splošno populacijo višji nivo nevroticizma in nižji nivo ekstravertnosti (kar pomeni višji nivo introvertnosti). Podobne rezultate prikazujejo tudi predhodne raziskave, zato sklepamo, da sta nevroticizem in introvertnost rizična dejavnika za depresijo.People are daily exposed to stress, challenging life events, physical illnesses and many more stressors, which have a negative effect on our mental health. Out of all diseases, an increase in the number of people suffering from depression is the highest. Slovenia, where the extent of the depression is consistently growing, is no exception. The number of people diagnosed with depression grew by approximately 6% per year between 2001 and 2008 (Kozel, Maučec Zakotnik, Tančič Grum, Kersnik, Rotar-Pavlič, Žmuc Tomori, & Ziherl, 2012). One of the key factors which influence the development of depression is personality (Bagby, Quilty, & Ryder, 2008). The purpose of our research was therefore to verify whether basic personality dimensions (neuroticism, extraversion and psychoticism) are risk factors for depression. We were interested in potential differences in basic personality dimensions between general population and clinical group. The research sample included 119 participants, from which 65.5% of them were from general population and 34.5% of them were persons diagnosed with depressive disorder. Values of basic personality dimensions and level of depression were measured with questionnaires (Eysenck Personality Quetionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory), which were filled out by the participants. The results showed important differences in personality dimensions neuroticism and extraversion between the general population and clinical group. However, there were no differences in psychoticism. Persons suffering from depressive disorder expressed higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion (which means higher levels of introversion) compared to the general population group. Based on similar results from previous studies, we can therefore conclude that neuroticism and introversion are risk factors for depression